Alumni Spotlight
Jonas Woods ’01
Becky (Armstrong) Woods ’00
Nick Woods
Randall Wildman ’03
Occupation: Farewell June, Christian rock and blues band
Evangel alumni Robert “Jonas” Woods ’01, Becky (Armstrong ’00) Woods, Randall Wildman ’03 and Nick Woods have combined their talents to form Farewell June, a contemporary Christian band in the rock and blues genre. Based out of Springfield, Missouri, Farewell June just finished touring on the Petra Farewell Tour across the United States and Canada.
Farewell June signed a contract with Whiplash Records in Nashville January 2005, the company that produced some of P.O.D.’s early CDs. The band’s first single was released in early August that same year. The band’s debut album, “1939,” was produced by CCM’s Jonathan David Brown.
Becky Woods, backing vocals and acoustic guitar, graduated from Evangel University with a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education and a minor in French. She taught fourth grade for three years prior to joining the band.
Jonas Woods, lead guitar and vocals, acoustic guitar, harmonica and violin, started the band in 2003 by finding the right people who had the right heart. His vision was to reach out to people and actually listen to what they needed.
Randall Wildman, bass and backing vocals, of Muskogee, Oklahoma, earned a piano degree from Evangel. Learning to play the bass mainly by ear, Randall has developed his own unique style. He studied for a master’s in music at Missouri State University and also taught music.
Nick Woods, lead guitar, joined the band in December of 2003 when they needed some help. He had performed in various bands while at Evangel but found his niche in Farewell June. He plays acoustic and electric guitars on the debut album as well as violin and banjo.
“Anybody that is seriously interested in attempting to step into the Christian music ministry would do themselves a favor by checking Evangel out for sure,” Jonas said. His time at Evangel was, “one of the best times in my life. I enjoyed my time here. Professors like Robert Berg, Milton Krans and Bill Griffin were highly influential.” He also said that he “loved Spring Fling and HarvestFest. There was one year that I played and was in every band.”
Farewell June has a purpose in hand to reach out with its music, in a relevant way, to the broken and hurting. Its goal is not only to speak to this generation but to listen to this generation’s voice. Jonas, who is also a youth pastor, says, “This is where the Christian music industry fails. It has a mouth to speak but no ears to listen.”
Farewell June continues to win the hearts and ears of both Christian and mainstream music fans by playing great music that shares the hope of Christ in a real and current way. Their purpose is “to play great music with thought provoking lyrics for a people that desperately need to know the love of God.”
The band also plays at clubs, coffeehouses, festivals and anywhere else the opportunity arises for them to penetrate culture with their music.